The Wampum Chronicles: The Code of Handsome Lake

The Code of Handsome Lake

This week’s The Wampum Chronicles, Darren Bonaparte continues with “In the Shadow of Serpents: The Code of Handsome Lake”

This day in Mohawk Valley history: December 31

Dutch explorer Harmen Meyndertsz van den Bogaert left Fort Orange (Albany), and passed around the little falls, possibly south of Fall Hill, while visiting Iroquois villages on his way to Oneida Lake. Most likely, he was the first white person to have visited this area.

This day in Mohawk Valley history: December 28

This day in Mohawk Valley History, December 28, 1917, Sailor Boys Hardly Know How to Thank the Ilion-Mohawk Relief.

Time for a Visit from St. Nicholas

‘Tis December 24, the day before Christmas, and all through the land, families send excited children to bed with a reading of Clement Moore’s classic poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

[Gen. Washington resigning his commission to Congress, Annapolis, Md., Dec. 23, 1783]. Photograph of a painting by John Trumbull, [between 1900 and 1912]. Detroit Publishing Company. Prints & Photographs Division

Washington Resigns His Commission

George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783.

The First Electric Christmas Lights

Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical light bulb, created the very first strand of electric lights.

This day in history: December 19 in Herkimer, NY

On December 19, 1888, it was announced another knitting mill would be in the Herkimer Manufacturing Company brick building.

This day in history: December 16 in Utica, NY

On December 16, 1886, the Utica Daily Observer reported on a rail Belt opening as well as a rail road Holiday Excursion to New York City.

This day in history: December 14

On December 14, 1774, several hundred men overpowered the small British garrison at Castle William & Mary in New Hampshire gaining possession of about 100 barrels of gunpowder from the crown.